Petro Government Sets Thursday for Transition Start with De la Espriella in Colombia

Colombia is set to formally commence its government transition on Thursday, with the incoming administration of President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella preparing to take the reins from the current Gustavo Petro government.

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There is no co-government in this period.

Germán Ávila, the outgoing Minister of Finance and coordinator of the outgoing transition team, announced that the first meeting with Vice President-elect José Manuel Restrepo will take place at the Casa de Nariño, the presidential palace. The agenda includes defining a schedule for the transition, which will be overseen by the Presidency and involve dedicated working groups within each ministry.

Ávila emphasized that the process will adhere to Law 951 of 2005, which governs government transitions. He assured that the current administration would provide all legally required information, with each minister responsible for their respective portfolios. He also firmly rejected any suggestions of a "co-government" during this period, stating that the Petro government will fully operate until its term ends on August 6.

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We do not admit any kind of coercion or threat of investigations.

Responding to the president-elect's plans to form an anti-corruption task force to review the outgoing administration's actions, Ávila asserted that the transition is not a platform for political debate or accusations. He stated that any suspicions of misconduct should be reported to the appropriate control bodies, not discussed during transition meetings. Ávila called for a respectful and calm environment, urging a shift away from confrontation given the country's polarized political climate.

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We invite to move the confrontational atmosphere to a calm transition environment.